Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. took the offensive in its effort to fend off a proposed takeover by Men's Wearhouse Inc., entering talks of its own to buy fellow apparel retailer Eddie Bauer LLC and issuing a sharply worded rebuke to its rival's latest bid to negotiate a deal.

Jos. A. Bank is in discussions for a possible takeover of Eddie Bauer, people familiar with the matter said this weekend. Such an acquisition could value Eddie...